Westfield National pitcher Jacob Mello pitches in Friday night’s tournament opener at Mini Fenway in Belchertown. (Photo by Chris Putz)
It was a tough opening night for Westfield Little League Baseball as the city’s top two All-Star squads fell in road games.
12-YEAR-OLDS
O’s topple Nats
Belchertown 6, Westfield National 1
Westfield National’s Nick Gauger drove in the team’s lone run, scoring pinch runner Ray Vergara at Mini Fenway. Jacob Mello pitched three solid innings and doubled for Westfield.
Evan Grant also had a hit
Dylan Gibson pitched well in relief for Westfield, which also had a doubled up off a base runner on a pop fly and throw to first base.
Westfield National returns home to take on Southampton’s 12-year-old team Monday at Paper Mill Field at 6 p.m.
Amherst slips past Americans
Amherst 8, Westfield American 6
Amherst spoiled Westfield American’s 2018 tournament debut with a comeback.
Still, there were several bright sports for Westfield: Devin Werbiskis (2-for-4, double, 2 runs scored), Nick Lenfest (2-for-4, double, 2 runs), and Josh Wagner (2-for-4, double, 3 RBIs), who knocked in Nate Pudlow to give Westfield American a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Pudlow’s two-run double in the third made it 4-0.
Westfield American led 5-0, but Amherst scored six in the third inning and two more in the fifth to surge ahead.
Wagner started the game for Westfield and struck out two batters in two innings. Eli Patrone struck out two batters in 2/3rds of an inning and Lenfest K’d three in 2 1/3rd innings of work.
Westfield American will look to bounce back Monday when they welcome Agawam at Ralph E. Sanville Field on Cross Street for a matchup at 6 p.m.
Westfield National’s Jacob Mello runs to third base on a wild pitch. Mello doubled to reach base in the inning. (Photo by Chris Putz)
